This is a RL charity that works in some of the worlds poorest countries helping to save men, women and children from blindness.

Specifically, we wish to support their work in battling a disease called trachoma. This is caused by a bacterial infection spread by unwashed hands and certain species of flies. Infection causes scarring of the eyelid, repeated infection causes the eyelid to turn inwards and the eyelashes to scrape against the cornea damaging it.

Years of repeated infections of trachoma cause trichiasis, when the eyelid turns inwards and the eyelashes rub on the eyeball, causing scarring of the cornea, constant irritation and terrible pain. In their desperation, many people pull out the in-turned eyelashes with a pair of tweezers. But the eyelashes always grow back, even stronger than before – bringing worse pain. Until slowly, they go blind.

The additional tragedy is that trachoma is such an easy disease to prevent. Trachoma can be treated in it’s early stages with antibiotics to clear-up the infection. Antibiotic treatment can be provided for less than $1.00 US dollar.

Once people have trichiasis, surgery is needed to turn the eyelashes away from the eye, reducing the pain and preventing the scarring of the cornea. Just $5.00 US dollars can fund a trichiasis operation.

Kim Rongyu, the CEO of this charity event, has lived in some of the countries where this awful disease exists, Through her RL experience, she knows how damaging this is and as a RL scientist, how easy it is to prevent. We are reaching out to the amazing talents of Second Life, creators and designers, to ask if you would like to join us for this cause, to raise funds to be donated to Sightsavers organization.